Translation guide
The concept of owning something, or the state of being the owner. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns, verbs, and grammatical patterns that indicate possession.
Expressing the abstract concept of ownership, as in legal or formal contexts.
The most direct and common noun for 'ownership', used in legal, formal, and everyday contexts.
この土地の所有は私にあります。
The ownership of this land is mine.
Specifically refers to 'ownership rights' or 'title', often used in legal documents.
彼はその家の所有権を持っています。
He holds the ownership rights to that house.
Refers to 'possession' or 'holding' of assets, often used in business or financial contexts.
会社は多くの特許を保有しています。
The company holds many patents.
Saying that a person has or possesses an item.
The standard way to say 'someone has/owns something'. Use 持っている for inanimate objects.
私は車を持っています。
I own a car.
Emphasizes that something belongs to someone. Literally 'is X's thing'.
この本は私のものです。
This book is mine (my property).
Formal or written expression for 'owns'. Used in legal or official statements.
彼は広大な土地を所有している。
He owns vast land.
Talking about giving or receiving ownership.
To transfer ownership rights. Common in legal/business contexts.
彼は車の所有権を息子に移した。
He transferred ownership of the car to his son.
To transfer or assign (property, rights). More formal than 移す.
彼は全財産を慈善団体に譲渡した。
He transferred all his assets to a charity.
Expressing the idea of 'taking ownership' of a task or problem.
To take responsibility for something. This is the natural way to express 'taking ownership' in a non-literal sense.
このプロジェクトの責任を持ってください。
Please take ownership of this project.
To proactively engage with something, implying a sense of ownership. Common in business settings.
社員には主体的に取り組む姿勢が求められる。
Employees are expected to take ownership of their work.
The English phrase 'take ownership' is often used figuratively. In Japanese, directly translating it as 所有を取る is unnatural. Use 責任を持つ or 主体的に取り組む instead.
彼は問題の責任を持った。
He took ownership of the problem.